Lebanon preparing for military operation near Syria border

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri says the army is preparing for a security operation along a lawless section of the border with Syria.

An operation has been expected since the head of Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah militant group said last week it was time to restore security in the Arsal region.

Hundreds of Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked militants are believed to be hiding in mountains around Arsal, a Lebanese border town that has been overwhelmed by refugees from the war in neighboring Syria.

The militants seized Arsal briefly in 2014, abducting several Lebanese servicemen, before retreating back to the mountains. The Army and Hezbollah have kept the town under restrictive guard since then.

Hariri's comments to parliament were carried by the state-run National News Agency on Tuesday.